Milk bottle capping machine



Feb. 2, 193.7. A, J. BRIGGS 2,069,351

MILK BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

BY "@W M WM ATTORNEY5.

Feb. 2, 1937. A. J. BRIGGS MILK BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 3, 1933 INVENTOR.

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Fefla.2,1937. A. J. BRIGGS 2,069,351

MILK BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 2, 1937. A. J. BRIGGS 2,069,351

MILK BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet I 1 :2 a55 60 4/ 5g 72 g g 70 a a 6 62 50 5g 68 7/ 7/ 5/ 5/ 50 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

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Feb. 2, 1937. A. J. BRIGGS 2,059,351

MILK BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1953' 5 Sheets$heet 5 W l iINVENTOR.

drill! JBrv BY%M?%M ATTORNEY5.

Patented Feb. 32, 1937 UNITED STATES MILK BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE ArthurJ. Briggs, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Sicuro Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application July 3, 1933, Serial No.678,846

21 Claims. (Cl. 226-80) This invention relates to applying caps tobottles as milk bottle caps with skirts which enclose the bottle neck aconsiderable distance below the bead at the top of the bottle, and hasfor its object a method and machine for forming the caps from a strip orribbon, and applying them while forming them to the bottles. It furtherhas for its object a mechanism for providing the cap with self-containedmeans for holding the cap or skirt 10 thereof contracted on the bottleneck, which means must be distorted or mutilated by the removal of thecap, that it can be readily seen or detected that the cap has beenremoved and the contents of the bottle tampered with or the 15 bottlerefilled after being emptied of its original contents.

It further has for its object a mechanism for rolling, spinning, orotherwise turning back the lower annular margin of the skirt, so as toform 20 a self-contained hem, bead or fold which contracts the skirt onthe bottle neck and more particularly, for forming or spinning orrolling a hem, fold or bead on a cap having a plaited skirt.

It further has for its object a mechanism for 5 forming the skirt with abead or fold by tucking under the annular margin of the skirt betweenthe major part of the skirt and'the bottle neck, and more particularly,for tucking back or under the margin of the cap, such as that shown inthe 30 Klist Patent No. 1,845,421.

It. also has for its object a machine for forming the caps of the Klistpatent from a scored blank and applying them to milk bottles.

It also has for its object a folding back or tucking under mechanism'which includes a member acting on the margin of the skirt and in effectmovable orbitally around the bottle neck, while relative axial movementis being effected between the bottle and the cap thereon, as one unit,and the turning back or tucking under mechanism, as another unit.

It further has for its object, a particularly simple and efilcientarrangement of the folding back or tucking under mechanism and thesupporting and arrangement of the orbitally movable memher so that itcan conform, during its operation, to variations in the contours anddiameters of milk bottle necks; and also, a particularly simplemechanism by which the orbitally'movable member or members, whilecontinuously moving in their orbits, are shifted out of their operatingposition to permit the removal of the bottle-it being understood thatthe neck of the bottle is proend of larger diameter than the neck of thebottle engaged by the skirt of the cap.

,It further has for its object a particularly simple and efficientmechanism for cutting the cap blanks from a sheet, forming and applyingthem 5 to the bottle and centering the blank and the upper end of thebottle.

Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designated corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a machine em bodying this inventon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view.

Figure 3 is an isometric exploded view, partly broken away, of themechanism for turning back, spinning or tucking under the lower marginof the cap and the support therefor.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cap applyingand tucking under mechanism showing the saine as coacting with the milkbottle.

Figures 5, 6, and '7 are fragmentary.- sectional views of the plaitingdies illustrating the successive positions of the dies relative to thebottle,

cap and to each other during the capping operation.

This bottle capping machine-comprises, generally, a suitable frame, asuitable support or holder for the bottle, mechanism for feeding aribbon, sheet tape or strip on which the. caps are scored or blanked,into juxtaposition to the capping mechanism and upper end of the .bottleon the support, mechanism for cutting theblank from the ribbon or strip,forming it into the cap and 40 applying it to the bottle with the skirtof the cap enclosing the 'neck of the bottle, mechanism for spinning,folding or turning upward, and preferably tucking upward and inward, thelower annular margin of the skirt, and timed actuating mechanismincluding connections which eifect relative axial movement of the'bottleand cap forming mechanism, and relative axial movements of the bottlewith the cap thereon and the folding, spinning or turning up mechanism.The method consists in bringing successive portions of a blank stripover the bottle top, severing the portion over the bottle top from thestrip and forming it into a hooded cap on the bottle and securing itthereto. a

In Figure 4, B designates the bottle; C the cap; S the skirt portionthereof; D the head or disk portion; and P the spiral plaits. Mdesignates the folded margin.

designates the bottle support, this being of any convenient and suitableconstruction. It comprises a shelf which is movable to carry the bottleupward and downward, to carry the upper end thereof into and out ofjuxtaposition to the cap forming and applying mechanism, the shelf beinghere shown as carried by a suitable guide, as a rod or stem l2, suitablymounted and guided in the base portion l3 of the frame of the machine inwhich the timed actuating mechanism or cam shaft is mounted. The shelf His provided with suitable centering gages for the bottle, these beingshown as spaced apart rods or pins l4.

The feeding mechanism for the sheet, strip, ribbon or tape from whichthe caps are formed, comprises a pair of feed rolls l5 and I6 supportedin suitable brackets on the frame of the machine and actuated from thecam shaft in the base |3 as will be hereinafter described.

The sheet from which the caps are blanked is preferably a wide tape orribbon l8 wound upon a suitable reel I9 supported by a bracket 20 fromthe frame of the machine. The ribbon l8 feeds through guide passages 2|,22 on opposite sides of the feed rolls and into a position over the topof the bottle on the support H and in juxtaposition to the cap formingmechanism. The feed rolls have a separating movement during theoperation of the mechanism, which centers the blank cap over the top ofthe bottle, preliminary to applying the cap to the bottle. Theseparating mechanism will be hereinafter described.

The caps are of the type having a skirt which encloses the neck of thebottle, and the caps are scored on the tape or ribbon l8, as shown at 23(Figure 1). The machine here illustrated is for the purpose of applyingcaps of the Klist Patent No. 1,845,421, which caps consist of a centralhead or disk portion D and a spirally plaited skirt portion P, themargin M of which is upturned or tucked under when the cap is fullyapplied to the bottle. The caps may be formed of any suitable material,usually of paper, and when the word paper is mentioned herein, it isunderstood that any other material may be used suitable for the purpose.

The mechanism for forming the cap from the tape or ribbon l8 andapplying the cap to the bottle top comprises upper and lower dies 24, 24respectively for cutting a circular blank from the tape l8, complementalupper and lower plaiting dies 25, 25- respectively for initiating theplaiting or folding operation of the skirt of the caps according to thescoring of the blank as shown at 23 (Figure 1), a member 26 for holdingthe head D of the cap C against the bottle top during plaiting andtucking operations and grippers 21 for contracting the neck, all ofthese mechanisms being actuated from a cam shaft within the base l3 Thebottle is lifted by its support under and into juxtaposition to thecapping mechanism and at the same time the ribbon or strip l8 fed tobring a blank into juxtaposition to the capping mechanism and the bottletop. The cutter or die 24 moves downward cutting the cap blank from theribbon I8 and the holder member 26 then presses the cap blank againstthe bottle top. The plaiting dies 25, 25 then move to initiate theplaited skirt around the bottle of the hous- The order of the operatingsteps is as follows:

folding of the plaits which have been previously scored on the cap blankand thereafter the grippers 21 complete the plaiting operation andcontract the plaited skirt around the neck of the bottle underneath thebead or collar at the upper 5 end of the bottle. Thereafter, the tuckingor margin folding mechanism comes into action.

The holder member 26 is'provided with a stem 28 guided in an axialpassage formed in a carrier 30 for the grippers 21, this carrier beingslidably 10 mounted in a stationary vertical sleeve or bearing 3|suitably supported from the frame. The stem 28 extends above the stem ofthe carrier 30 which supports the gripper fingers 21 and coacts-withsuitable means, as a yoke 32, carried 15 by the actuating mechanism forthe upper cutting die 24, so that the die 24 and holder 26 move as aunit. The yoke here shown is carried between the bifurcations'of a lever33 which is an angle lever pivoted at 34 to an upright bracket 20 |3 onthe base |3 of the frame, the lever having an arm 35 constituting partof the connections to a cam on the cam shaft which will be hereinafterdescribed. As this lever 35 is actuated, the

holder member 26 is moved downward against 25 the head of the bottle capat the same time the upper shearing die 24 is actuated downwardly to cutout the cap blank from the ribbon or sheet.

The grippers 21 are here shown as levers pivoted at 40 to the carrier3|! and as having arcuate jaws 4| at their lower ends, each jaw 4|lapping the adjacent jaw as at 42 in order to maintain the continuity ofthe arcuate gripping faces of the jaws during expansion and contractionof the levers 21. The levers 2! are actuated during the 35 movement ofthe carrier 30 by stationary cam surfaces 43 provided on the lower endof the stationary sleeve or bearing 3i, which surfaces coact withadjustable followers 44 at the upper ends of the levers. The cam 43 isconical in gen- 4 eral outline and acts as an expander on the upper armsof the levers 21 to cause their lower armscarrying the jaws 4| tocontract when the carrier 30 moves downwardly to carry the jaws 4| belowthe bead at the upper end of the 5 bottle B.

The expanding movement of the gripper levers 21 is restrained or thefollowers 44 are held against the cam 43 by suitable spring means, hereshown as an annular coiled spring 45 surrounding 5 the upper arms of thelevers 21. The bearing 3| is supported by an arm 41 extending from theupright bracket |3 of the frame, the arm 41 being here shown as providedwith a split bearing which is clamped on the sleeve or bearing 3|.

The operation of the machine thus far described is as follows: Theoperator places the filled bottle on the shelf or support The placing ofthe bottle against the gages |4 centers the bottle and also operates acontrol member which 60 causes the actuation of the actuating mechamsmor cam shaft first lifting the bottle up under the blank bottle capwhich has been fed over to the position to be occupied by the top of thebottle.

Thereafter, the pressure head or cap holder 26 65 downward together intothe position shown in 75 ill 9,069,351 Figure 6 and finally into theposition shown in Figure 7 to complete the crimping operation. The lowerdie moves farther downward than the upper die 25 to separate the diesand release the plaited skirt which now stands at an angle of about 45.During this operation of the dies, or immediately after, the carrier 30has moved far enough downward relative to the fixed bearing 3| to' causethe followers 44 to ride on the cam or conical lower end 43 of thebearing 3| and hence cause the upper ends of the gripper levers 21 toexpand and the lower ends to grip inwardly into the position shown inFigure 4, and wrap the plaited skirt tightly around the bottle neckbeneath the bead of the bottle B. During these operations, the bottle isheld in its elevated-position.

The mechanism for spinning, turning back, and preferably tucking under,the lower annular margin of the "plaited skirt, in order to provide theskirt with means formed therefrom, or selfcontained therewith, forholding or locking the skirt contracted on the bottle neck, comprises abottle neck, and also in this embodiment of my invention, movableaxially during its orbital movement, said member having means forcoacting with the lower edge of the skirt'to' bend, roll or spin itbackwardly during the axial and orbital movements. As, preferably, the.bending back is an inward or tucking operation to fold the lower marginof the plaited skirt into a position between the major part of the skirtand the bottle neck, meansis provided for guiding the margin so that itwill fold inwardly. There are preferablytwo of such folding or tuckingmembers arranged diametrically oppositeeach other and carried by anannular rotating spinner head, each of said members being connected Wthe rotating head by a support or carrier shiftable to have a, radialmovement, the radial shifting being for the purpose of shifting thetucking members outwardly in order to permit the bottle with the capthereon to clear said members during retrograde movement of the bottleafter it has been capped.

50 (Figures 3 and 4) designates the folding or tucking members, thesebeing carried by radially movable carriers, as levers 5|, pivoted orhinged at 52 to a rotating or spinninghead 53, which is rotatablymounted on an annular carrier 54 shiftable axially by the timedactuating mechanism or cam shaft, it having a bracket 55 connected to alift rod operated by the cam shaft to,be presently described. Anantifriction bearing 56 is interposed between the rotating head 53 andits carrier 54. -Each folding or tucking member 50 is connected to itssupporting lever 5| by a coupling having a rocking movement on ahorizontal axis to permit the member 58 to have suflicient play toconform to different diameters and different contours of the bottles.-The carriers 5| are normally placed in such position as to shift themembers 50 inwardly radially toward the bottle by springs 55 and areshifted radially outwardly for the. purpose of permitting the bottle toclear them when the bottle support is moved downward with the cappedbottle by means to be presently described. I

As seen in Figures 3 and 4, each tucking member comprises a back plate58 having a die, deflector or grooved folder 59 on the face thereof,guide means, as a finger 68, for guiding the lower edge of the skirtinto the side of the groove of the member 59 nearest the back plate58,-so that as the rotating head 53 moves axially upward, this marginwill be turned back in a predetermined direction, as upward and inward.As here shown, the back plate 58 is secured to the carrier lever 5| bymeans of a stem 6| extending through an opening 62 in the lever 5| andheld in position-by a cap 61' threading on the outer end of the stem,the cap being spaced from the outer side of the lever 6|. The stemloosely fits the opening 62 so that the back plate can have freedom ofmovement,-or something in the nature of a rocking movement, and in ordertoaccurately position the back plate or. the folder without interferingwith its rocking movement, the lever 5| is provided with pins or studs66 on opposite sides of the opening 62, which studs enter openings 61 inthe back plate, and fulcrums on knife edges 68 are provided on the basesof the pins 65, these being edges extending in a horizontal direction.Thus, the back plate, owing to the fulcrums and the loose fits of thestem 6| in the opening 62 and of pins 66 in the holes 61 can have arocking movement, so that the back plate 58 and mechanism carriedthereby has suflicient play to conform to the contour of the bottlenecks and to the contours of the plaited skirts. The

die, deflector or-folder 59 is here shown as a grooved roller having anaxle 69 mounted in the bore of the stem 6| and held in position by ascrew I0 threading into the axle and having its head coacting with theouter end of the stem 5|, the screw being located within the hollow cap62 The guide finger 60 includes a base portion secured to the base plate58 below the roller 59 and a curved arm extending in the rear of theroller 59 and upwardly over the same in the direction of rotation of thehead 53, the finger being provided at its end with a deflector 12 whichis spaced apart from the base plate 58 forming a passage through whichthe margin of the cap passes, the overhanging portion of the fingerbeing spaced apart from the periphery of the roller a distancedetermined by the width of the margin folded back or tucked under. Asseen in Figure 4, the margin M of the cap C is shown as deflected awayfrom the bottle toward the outer side of the groove of the roller 59 sothat during upward feeding of the head 53,- the margin will be foldedinwardly and upwardly. Fhe deflecting finger 60, -it will be noted,'runs next to the periphery of the bottle Thehead 53 is located to carrythe folding or tucking member 50" orbitally, preferably by a constantlyrunning motor 13 suitably carried by the vertical bracket I3 of themachine and the motion is transmitted from the motor shaft to the head53 by a belt 14 running in a peripheral groove 15 in the head 53, thecarrier 54 for the head 53 being fed axially from the camshaft as willbe hereinafter described. I

The means for shifting the folding .or tucking members 50 outwardlytopermit the capped head of the bottle to clear the folding means at theend of the capping operation will now be described. The springs 55, as,before stated, tend to move the carrier levers 5| for the tuckingmembers 50 radially inwardly, and the means for moving them radiallyoutwardly acts on the levers to press the levers outwardly against thesprings 55 during or at the end of the downward movement of the carrier54. As here shown, the carrier 54 for the rotating head 53 is held fromrotating by a pin 54 on an annular bracket 80 suitably fixed tothe.frame and carrying a rotating abutment ring 8|, there being anantifriction bearing 82 between the annular bracket or support 00 andthe abutment ring 8|. The abutment ring is coupled to the head 53 in anysuitable manner, as by pins 83, extending through the passage confinedby the carrier 54 and slidably fitting passages 84 in the head 53. Theabutment ring is formed with diametrically opposite clearances 85 forthe levers or carriers 5| for the tucking members and these levers 5|are provided, with angular arms 86 having down-turned extensions 81 forengaging the abutment ring at opposite ends of the clearances 85.Usually, the abutment ring is provided with hardened inserts 88 forcoacting with the ends 81 of the arms 86. While the cap is first beingplaited and the skirt wrapped around the bottle neck, the carrier 54 iscontiguous to the support 80 and the head 53 and the abutment ring BIare rotated due to the fact that the motor I3 is constantly running. Atthis time, the ends 81 of the levers 86 are engaged with abutments 88and the levers swung radially outwardly against the action of theirreturning springs 55 and hence, the tucking members are displacedradially far enough to permit the bottle or the bead at the upper endthereof to pass upwardly to the capping mechanism without beinginterfered with by the tucking members 50. When the carrier 54 is movedupwardly, through connections from the cam shaft, the ends 31 of thelever arms 86 move away from the abutments or inserts 88 permitting thesprings 55 to react and carry the tucking members in position so thatthe guide finger 60 engages the periphery of the neck of the bottle andthe grooved die or guide roller 59 is under the edge of the skirt.Hence, during the upward feeding of the carrier 54 and head 53, thegrooved die roller 59 turns the margin of the plaited cap upwardly andinwardly. At the end of this operation, the carrier 54 again movesdownward until the ends 81 of the lever arms 86 engage the inserts 88,thus moving the tucking members 50 radially outwardly so that the bottlewith the cap thereon will pass between and clear the tucking members.Thus, after the gripping fingers 21 have contracted about the skirt, asshown in Figure 4, the carrier 54 and spinner head 53 move upwardly toperform the tucking operation and then downwardly to its startingposition to displace radially the tucking members out of the path of thecapped bottle.

In order to center the blank ribbon or tape I8 relatively to the bottleor to the cutting die 24, the ribbon, from which the blanks are cut, isformed with holes 90, one for each blank and a pointed centering pin 9|is provided for entering the hole of the blank in position to be cut outfrom the tape and applied. This pin moves with and is carried by thecutting die 24 and projects slightly in advance thereof. In order togive the tape sufficient play to permit the centering pin to act, thefeed rollers I5, I5 are separated during the downward movement of thecutting die 24 and before it engages the blank. As here shown, the lowerfeed roll I0 is carried at its ends by spring pressed levers 92 arrangedin the path of a pin 93 which moves vertically with the cutter die 24and the centering pin and engages at 94 the levers 92 and separates theroller I6 from the roller I5, so that the ribbon can shift, ifnecessary, slightly to permit the pin to enter the hole and center thecap blank in position under the cap applying mechanism.

The feed roller I5 is actuated from the cam shaft through suitablemechanism to be described. The paper feeding mechanism, with theexception of the centering of the blank, the. cap forming mechanism,with the exception of the turning back of the lower edge of the cap, theactuating mechanism or cam shaft and connections operated thereby totime the operations, in themselves, form no part of this invention, andthis invention pertains primarily to the means for providing the plaitedcap with a turned back or tucked under margin and the centering of theblank per se and combined with a bottle capping mechanism generally.

I00 designates a cam shaft having a cam IOI for performing the bottlelifting operation, cams I02, I03, I03 for operating holder 26, cuttingdie 24, and the plaiting dies, cam I04 for operating the grippingfingers 21, cam I05 for operating the carrier 54 for the tucking back orspinner mechanism, and cam I06 for operating the feed rollers I5, I6. Asthe operation of cam shafts and the laying out and arranging of timingcams to produce any given sequence of operations is well known in themechanical arts, further description and illustration of the cams isthought to be unnecessary. The cam shaft is operated from an electricmotor, not shown. suitably mounted in the base I3 of the housing, andthe motion of the motor shaft is transferred to the cam shaft through aperiodic clutch, preferably a one-revolution clutch. the throwing in ofthe clutch being controlled by the placing of the bottle in properposition upon the support, and the throwing out of the clutch occurringafter the cam shaft has rotated, in this instance, one revolution. Asthe operation of periodic clutches is well known, further description isthought to be unnecessary.

The motor actuates a worm which meshes with the worm gear I08 on thedriving section of the periodic clutch. The motion is transmitted fromthe motor through a belt I01 and pulley I08 rotatable with the worm. Theclutch is normally in its out" position and is thrown to its "inposition in any well known manner, as by a rock shaft I09 andconnections including a link IIO between it and a control member IIIadjacent the support II, this controlling member being mounted on alever arm I I2 on a shaft extending through the top of the base I3. Thecontrol member III is located in position to be engaged by the bottlewhen the bottle engages the gage pins I4.

Milk bottles are usually of three different sizes, to wit: quart, pintand one-half pints. There are three supports, one for each class ofbottles, and

these are detachably mounted in any suitable manner on the rod I2 andare the same, except that that for pint bottles is lower than that for-one-half pints, and that for quart bottles is lower than that for pintbottles. Each of these supports is provided with its own gage pin I4 andoperating member III and the connections between each of the operatingmembers I I I are made with the arm H2 in accordance with the size ordiameter of the bottle.

In operation, when a bottle is placed on the support II against the gagepins I4, it operates the member III which in turn, through the arm I I2,link IIO, rock shaft I09, throws in a periodic clutch, so that the camshaft is turned one revolution. At the end of the revolution, the clutchis automatically thrown out, a feature incidental to periodic clutches.As the shaft rotates, the strip or paper feeding rolls I5, I6 areactuated by the cam I06, the bottle support II is lifted through the camMI and follower operated thereers of said connections against the cam.The

by, to carry the upper part of the bottle through the annular bracket80, carrier 54 and spinner head 53 and up under the cap blank. At thesame time, the cam I02,which is in the rear of the rod or stem' I2 ofthe bottle support, actuates the arm 35 of the lever 33 to operate thecutter 24 and the centering pin 9| and to bring down the holder 26 onthe top of the cap. Immediately thereafter, the cams I03, I03 bring theplaiting dies 25, 25 into cooperation. Then the gripper head is shifteddownward by the cam I04 and causes the gripper fingers 21 to contractthe skirt about the bottle neck. Thereafter, the cam I05 lifts thespinner mechanism into and out of position to cause the tucking members50 to tuck up the lower margin of the plaited cap and to move downwardlyinto position to permit the bottle support I I to lower and the cappedbottle to clear the tucking mechanism.

The connections between the various cams and the mechanism they operatemay be of any suit? able form, size and construction, all ofthemincluding returning springs for holding the followconnections foroperating thefeed rolls I5, I6 includes a rod I20 having a followercoacting with the cam I06 and a rack I2I at its upper end coacting witha gear, not shown, on the axle of the upper roll I5, which gear isconnected to the axle of the roller I5 by a one-way clutch device, as aratchet and pawl, not shown, so that the paperis fed only during theupward movement of the rod I20 by the cam I06. The rolls I5, I6 aregeared together. The connections between the cam I M and the bottlesupport II or the stem I2 thereof includes a lever I23 pivoted to therear wall of the base I3 and actuated by a follower I24 coacting withthe cam I02. The stem I2 is elevated by the helical tension spring I2and is moved downwardly against the action of the spring I2 by the camMI. The connections between the cam I02 and the lever arm 33 include thearm 35, previously referred to. The cams I 03, I03 operate respectivelythe upper and lower plaiting dies 25, 25 downwardly through connectionsincluding rods I26 and I2! having followers coacting with thecams I03, I03, these rods being connected at I28 and I29 to arms on said diesrespectively. The gripper head 30 is actuated by cam I04, through rodI40 having a follower coacting with the cam I04.

'I'he'tucking back or spinner mechanism, that is, the spinnerhead 53 andits support 54, is raised and lowered through a lift rod I30 having afollower coacting with the cam I05, this rod being connected to thebracket 55 of the carrier '54. A

suitable brake 200 isapplied to the cam shaft to prevent over-runningthereof.

' Thus, upon the placing of a bottle on the bottle support II, theautomatic one-revolution clutch is thrown in by reason of the bottleoperating the operating member III so that the ribbon with the capblanks thereon is fed one step to carry a blank in juxtaposition'to thecap forming mechanism and to carry-the bottle up into juxtaposition tothe blank, and the blank applying mechanism is then actuated by the camI02, the crimping or plaiting dies and then actuated by the cams I03,I03 and thereafter the gripper actuated by cam I 04. Thereafter, thetucking mechanism carried by the spinner head 53' is moved upwardlycausing the tucking memout of the path of the capped bottle and then thebottle support lowered with the capped bottle, where the bottle can beremoved and another one placed on the support and the operationrepeated.

What I claim is:

1. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle, of mechanism for folding upward the lower annularmargin of the skirt, and means for holding the bottle with the capthereon stationary and rotating and moving said folding mechanismaxially of the bottle.

2. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle and forming the skirt with plaits, of mechanism forfolding the lower annular margin of the skirt throughout itscircumference to bind the skirt on the bottle neck, and means 'foreffecting relative axial and rotary movements of the bottle and the capthereon and said folding means.

3. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle and forming the skirt with plaits, of mechanism for.folding the margin of the plaited skirt throughout its circumference tobind the skirt on the bottle neck, and means for holding the bottle withplaited cap thereon stationary and rotating and moving said foldingmechanism axially of the bottle.

4. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle, of mechanism for tucking inwardly the lower marginof the skirt between the body of the skirt and the bottle neck, and

means for holding the bottle and cap stationary and rotating and, movingaxially the tucking mechanism.

.5. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanismforapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle, of mechanism for folding upward the lower annularmargin of the skirt adjacent the body of the skirt, and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle andthe cap are held stationary, said folding mechanism includ inga member movable orbitally during rotation of the folding mechanismaround the bottle neck and coacting with the margin. of the skirt tofold it upwardly during the orbital movement.

6. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle, of mechanism for folding upward the lower annularmargin of the skirt adjacent the body of the skirt andmeans for 'bottleneck and coacting with the marginof the skirt to fold it inwardly duringthe orbital movement, said member having a. folder die for coacting withthe lower edge of the skirt, and means for guiding the lower' edge ofthe skirt against the folder die during the orbital movement of saidmember.

7. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with av skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle, of mechanism for folding upward the lower annularmargin of the skirt adjacent the body of the skirt and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle and the cap are held stationary, said folding mechanism includinga die member movable orbitally during rotation of the folding mechanismaround the bottle neck and coacting with the margin of the skirt to foldit upwardly during the orbital movement, and a guide member extendingabove the folder and located at one side of the folder in position todeflect the margin against the die member at a predetermined angle.

8. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, mechanismfor folding inward and upward the lower annular margin of the skirtbetween the body of the skirt and the bottle neck, and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle with the cap thereon is held stationary, said folding mechanismincluding a member movable orbitally around the bottle neck and coactingwith the margin of the skirt to fold upwardly and inwardly during theorbital movement.

9. In a bottle capping machine, the combina tion with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, mechanismfor folding inward and upward the lower annular margin of the skirtbetween the body of the skirt and the bottle neck, and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle with the cap thereon is held stationary, said folding mechanismincluding a member movable orbitally around the bottle neck and coatingwith the margin of the skirt to fold the same upward and inward duringthe orbital movement, said member having a folder for engaging the loweredge of the skirt and means for guiding the lower edge of the skirttoward the outer side of the folder during the orbital movement of saidmember.

10. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, mechanismfor folding inward and upward the lower annular margin of the skirtbetween the body of the skirt and the bottle neck, and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle with the cap thereon is held stationary, said folding mechanismincluding a member movable orbitally around the bottle neck and coactingwith the margin of the skirt to fold it upward and inward during theorbital movement, the folding member including a back plate, a folderdie mounted on the inner face of the back plate, and a guide fingercarried by the back plate and having a portion spaced from the backplate forming a passage through which the margin of the cap extends, theguide finger extending above the folder and serving to press the marginof the cap toward the outer side of the folder die.

11. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt to the bottle with the skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle, of mechanism for folding upward the lower annularmargin of the skirt adjacent the body of the skirt, and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle and the cap are held stationary, said folding mechanism includinga member movable orbitally during rotation of the folding mechanismaround the bottle neck and coacting with the margin of the skirt to foldit up during the orbital movement, and a carrier for said member, saidmember being connected to the carrier by a coupling having a rockingcompensating action.

12. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, ofmechanism for folding inward and upward the lower annular margin of theskirt between the body of the skirt and the bottle neck, and means forrotating the folding mechanism and feeding the same axially while thebottle with the cap thereon is held stationary, said folding mechanismincluding a member movable orbitally around the bottle neck and coactingwith the margin of the skirt to fold upward and inward during theorbital movement, said member including a back plate, a folder diemounted on the inner face of the back plate, a guide finger carried bythe back plate and having a guiding portion spaced from the back plateforming a passage through which the margin of the cap extends, the guidefinger extending above the folder and serving to press the margin of thecap toward the outer side of the folder die whereby the margin is foldedinwardly by the folder die during the axial movement of said member, acarrier for the folding member, the back plate being connected to thecarrier by a coupling having a rocking compensating action.

13. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, and a sup-2.

port for the bottle operable for lifting the support to carry the bottleaxially into and out of juxtaposition to the capping mechanism, ofspinner mechanism for turning upward the margin of the cap to lock thecap on the neck of the bottle, the

' spinner mechanism comprising a rotating head having an axial passagefor the bottle, an orbitally movable margin folding member carried bythe head and shiftable radially into and out of position to engage thebody of the margin of the cap, said head being movable axially of thebottle, means for shifting said member radially inwardly during theupward movement of the head and for shifting it outwardly radiallyduring the down- .ward movement of the spinner head and timed actuatingmeans for operating the capping mechanism, the bottle support andshifting the spinner head axially.

14. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, and asupport for the bottle, operable to carry the bottle axially into andout of juxtaposition to the capping mechanism, of spinner mechanism forturning upward the margin of the cap to lock the cap on the neck of thebottle, comprising a rotating head having an axial passage for thebottle, a folder member movable orbitally in said passage and around thepassage, a radially shiftable carrier for the folder member, the carrierbeing mounted in the head, the head being movable axially, means forcausing the carrier to shift radially inward during upward axialmovement of the head and to shift radially outward during downwardmovement of the head.

15. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, and asupport for the bottle, operable to carry the bottle axially into andout of juxtaposition to the capping mechanism, of spinner mechanism forturning upward the margin of the cap to lock the cap on the neck of thebottle, comprising a rotating head having an axial passage for thebottle, a folder member movable orbitally around said passage, aradially shiftable carrier for the folder member pivoted to the head andshiftable on its pivot radially relative to the head, the head beingshiftable axially, means for causing the carrier to move radiallyinwardly on its pivot during upward axial movement of the head and toshift the carrier radially outward on its pivot during downward movementof the head.

16. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a cap with a skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle and asupport for the bottle operable to carry the bottle axially into and outof juxtaposition to the bottle capping mechanism, of spinner mechanismfor turning upward the margin of the cap to lock the cap on the bottlecomprising an abutment member fixed from axial movement, an axially.shiftable rotating head, the head and abutment member being providedwith passages for the oottle in its axial movement toward and from thecapping mechanism, a folder member rotatable with the head and movableorbitally around the bottle passage, a carrier for said member mountedon the head toshift radially, the carrier having an arm normallyengaging the abutment to hold I 17. In a bottle capping machine, thecombination with mechanism for applying a cap with a skirt enclosing theneck of the bottle and a sup-. port for the bottle operable to carry thebottle axially into and out of juxtaposition to the bottle cappingmechanism, of spinner mechanism for turning upward the margin of the capto lock the cap on the bottle comprising an abutment member fixed fromaxial movement, a rotating head, the head and abutment member beingprovided with passages for the bottle, a folding member rotatable withthe head and movable .orbitally around the bottle passage, a carrierlever pivoted to the head and movable on its'pivot radially relativelyto the axis of the head to carry said member radially toward and fromthe axis of said passage, means for pressing the lever inwardly,.

the lever having an angular arm normally coacting with the abutment tohold the carrier in its outward position and movable out of engagementwith the abutment during the upward movement of the spinner head topermit the carrier to move inward on its pivot, actuating mechanism; andconnections operated thereby for operating the bottle support, thecapping mechanism and shifting the spinner head upward and downward.

18. In a bottle capping machine, a bottle support, capping mechanism'for applying a cap to the bottle and actuating mechanism andconnections operated thereby for effecting relative movement of thebottle and capping mechanism, of means por feedingablank strip fromwhich the caps are formed into juxtaposition to the capping mechanismand the bottle, including a pair. of feed rollers coacting with thestrip, the rolls having a separating movement torelease the strip of thefeeding mechanism and the strip having a centering hole for each blank,a center ing pin operated by the capping mechanism for entering saidhole, and means timed with the actuating mechanism for separating therolls preliminary to the applying of the cap blank which is injuxtaposition to the cap applying mechanism and the bottle.

19. In a bottle capping machine, the combina-'.

tion of mechanism for forming caps with skirts from blanks and formingthe caps on the bottles, with the skirt enclosing the neck of thebottle,

means for supporting the bottle in juxtaposition to the cappingmechanism and the cap blanks, said mechanism including upper and lowercrimping dies, and timed means for actuating the upper I die toward thelower and interposed margin of the blank and for moving both diesdownwardly, as a unit, plaiting the skirt and folding it downward at aninclined angle around the bottle neck so that it flares outward,'andtimed means for wrapping the flared skirt around the bottle neck.

20. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of mechanism forforming caps with skirts from blanks and forming the caps on thebottles,

with theskirt enclosing the neck of the bottle,

means for supporting the bottle in juxtaposition to the cappingmechanism and the cap blanks, said mechanism including upper and lowercrimping dies, and timed means for actuating the upper die toward thelower and interposed margin of the blank and for moving both diesdownwardly, as a unit, plaiting the skirt and folding it downward at aninclined angle. around the bottleneck so that it flares outward andseparating the dies disk; extending radially beyond the top of-the'bottle, of mechanism for forming the extending portion of the disk intoa pleated skirt enclosing the neck of the bottle, of mechanism forfolding upward the lower annular margin of the skirt, and

means for effecting relative axial and rotary movements of the bottlewith the cap thereon, and the turning up mechanism.

ARTHUR J. BRIGGS.

